Greater Sudbury animal control costs may double

Sudbury city councillors were forced to make a decision on animal control in the city at their meeting Tuesday night.

"It seems like we have a gun to our head," said Coun. Ron Dupuis.

"This puts us over a barrel, which I don't like," Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann added.

"Our backs are up against the wall," Coun. Dave Kilgour said.

That's because the current contract with Rainbow District Animal Shelterends Nov. 1, after being extended earlier this year. 

Also, the election is on the horizon and council is restricted from making big decisions after Friday.

City staff members asked council to authorize them to negotiate a contract of up to seven years with Rainbow District Animal Shelter.

But, in the end, city council didn't want the contract extension to be any longer than two years. That's because council wants to overhaul the way animal control is done in Greater Sudbury.

"It's time for us to build a new mousetrap," Coun. Jacques Barbeau said. "And I don't see it tonight. I see a whole lot of the same."

Several city councillors mentioned last night that the current contractor is asking for twice as much money to run animal control in Greater Sudbury, without some of the service enhancements that came out of a public consultation process last year.

Last year, controlling dogs and cats cost Greater Sudbury taxpayers $423,000.

Mayor Marianne Matichuk was disappointed that earlier planning didn't set up an easy decision for council.

"It's been over two years that we've been talking about this and, again, we're at the 11th hour. And that's not the way you do business."

City staff now have until the end of October to reach an agreement with Rainbow District Animal Shelter.

If no deal is struck, the city would then look for a Plan B, including the possibility of having the service provided directly by city staff.